Hospital cabinet-commode



Jan. 24, 1950 w. s. HORN HOSPITAL CABINET-COMMODE Filed April 14, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l F'IEnl WILLIAM S. HORN INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Jan. 24, 1950 w. s. HORN HOSPITAL CABINET-COMMODE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 14, 1949 W/LL/AM 8. HORN INVENTOR. BY 5 0124% HIV ATTORNEY- Patented Jan. 24, 1950 OFFICE 2,495,374 HOSPITAL CABINET COMMODE William S. Horn, Fort Worth, Tex. I Application April 14, 1949, Serial No.87,'533

6 Claims.

This invention relates to hospital equipment,

and it has particular reference to a device which combines a commode of hospital-bed-height and bedside table-cabinet adapted to be utilized beside the bed of the patient in hospitals, and other institutions dedicated to the sick and invalid,

and its principal object resides in the provision of a compact utilitarian cabinet having for its primary purpose the provision of means for operatively housing and supporting a bed pan, con- 1 ventionally used in hospitals, and the like, while also affording a convenient bedside cabinet for storing various necessary sickroom articles, in cluding personal items belonging to the patient, and also affording a convenient bed-height table to be utilized in the conventional manner.

Another object --of the invention resides in the "provision of a cabinet of the character described having formed therewith a convenient foot rest for the patient, when the device is used as a commode, disposed the proper distance below the top of the cabinet or seat of the commode, whereby the patient, when seated upon the open seat of the commode, may comfortably support vhis feet upon the foot rest, or utilize the same While transferring himself from the bed to the commode seat.

A still further object of the invention is that of providing a hospital-bed-height commode having its seat in the approximate plane with the top of the hospital bed, whereby the patient can more conveniently move from the bed to the seat of the commode, with a-minimum of exertion, without standing or taking a step and with less possibility for injury when the patient is in a weakened condition. I

The invention also contemplates the provision of a drawer, or a plurality thereof, in the cabinet which may be so arranged as to be opened from either side of the cabinet enabling the same to be used on either side of the bed, or on either end thereof, and providing a closure for the cabinet in its front above the foot rest where bed pans, emesis basins, wash basins, toilet tissue, and the like, may be conveniently stored and retained readily accessible.

An important object of the invention is that of providing a cabinet-commode in which is also embodied features of construction whereby an extensible step or ottoman can be concealed within the structure to be withdrawn for use, when desired, and affording a device in which both, the foot rest and theottoman, may becollectively or individually disposed of within the cation of the presence of these members when they are in a closed position.

Broadly, the invention contemplates the pro,- vision of a convenient accessory for hospitals, and the like, wherein ahospital-bed-height commode is embodied in a utility cabinet which may also be utilized as a bedside table, thus embodying in one unit several highly useful and essential factors for bedside attendance of hospital patients, and affording a safe and convenient device for the patients use unattended, and providing apparatus which is light and readily portable by hos- .pital attendants with a minimum of effort.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the appended drawings,'wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the invention, onlines l-l of Figure 2, illustrating the bed pan supported in the top thereof, the foot rest, and the drawers, and showing the ottoman extended.

Figure 2 is afront elevational view of the in- :vention, showing the drawers, their opposite operative positions being shown in dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating the invention in operative position, the top being raised to show the open seat providing the bedside commode and the ottoman extended.

. Figure 4 is a plan view of the invention, illustrating the bed pan supported therein, the top and the open seat being hinged upwardly.

. Figure 5 is a perspective View of one of the brackets for supporting'the bed pan in the cabine Figure 6 illustrates, in side elevation, a modification of the cabinet in which the foot rest, as .well as the ottoman, is slidable thereinto.

Figure 7 is a front 'elevational view of the cabinet shown in Figure 6, the 'footrest and ottoman being retracted.

Figure 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the modified cabinet, taken on lines 8-8 of Figure 7, showing the arrangement of slide channels for the retractible foot rest and ottoman, and

' support l2. The upper portion of the cabinet I0 is divided into compartments l3 and M by a shelf 15. It may be desirable to provide one or cabinet so that, in appearance, there is no ind-i- 755 a plurality of shelves, such as the shelf IS in apparent in Figure 2.

the upper portion of the cabinet ID to form other compartments for whatever purpose these may be found convenient. The shelf I5, however, may be omitted, as in Figure 8. An opening I6 is provided in the front of the cabinet which is closed by a door ll, shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Above the opening I5 is provided a compartment in which supporting brackets i8 and I! are arranged rearwardly and forwardly thereof, respectively, for supporting a conventional bed pan 29 in the manner illustrated in Figure 1. Immediately above the bed pan 29 is arranged a frame 2| having an open seat portion 2| which is hinged at 22 to the rear 23 of the frame, rear- Wardly of the cabinet l9, and may be raised to the position shown in Figure 4 to gain access to the bed pan 29 to remove or replace the same as required. The cabinet I9 is provided with a hinged top 24, shown closed in Figures 1 and 2, and hinged on its rearmost edge to be capable of being raised in the manner shown in Figures 3 and 4. The upper surface of the top 24 may be employed as a bedside table in the conventional manner and is preferably of metal, such as stainless steel, aluminum, or the like.

In one form of the invention the base portion H of the cabinet [9 has arranged therein a plurality of drawers 25 and 26 operatively supported on angular slides 21 and adapted to be opened from either side of the cabinet ill in the manner shown in Figure 2. In this illustration it will be noted that the upper drawer 25 is shown extended from the left side of the cabinet, as viewed in the illustration, while the lower drawer 2B is extended from the right side, and dotted line illustrations of both drawers indicate that they may be extended from opposite sides of the cabinet i9, depending upon which side of the hospital bed the device is arranged. It is customary to 'position the cabinet at the head of the bed and fronting toward the foot thereof. Thus, by arranging the drawers 25 and 26 in the manner shown, the invention may be arranged on either side of the bed and fronting in either direction depending upon the position of the head of the bed.

Lending further to the compactness of the invention, in which are embodied most of the necessary elements included in the furnishings of a conventional hospital room, a foot stool or ottoman 23 is arranged within the extended portion i of the base of the cabinet "I so that it may be capable of sliding forwardly to an operative position, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. The member 28 has a horizontal surf-ace 29, providing a tread, and a depending riser 39 which, when the device is disposed in the base H of the cabinet IE, will be flush with the front wall thereof as The rearmost edge of the tread 29 is supported on a rod 3| which extends transversely across between the inner walls of the cabinet i9, in the base portion I, and into slides or ways 32 formed between pairs of parallel rails 33 by which the foot stool 28 is guided into and out of the base portion ll of the cabinet it as required.

commode. One of the primary purposes of the member 28 is to aid the patient in getting into or out of bed, it being necessary only to utilize the step I2 in moving himself from the bed to the seat 2| covering the bed pan 29.

Suitable braces 34 are provided on each side of the top 24, slidably linking the same to the cabinet W, as shown in Figure 3, to retain the top 24 in a substantially vertical position when open and the seat 2| and its hinged portion 2| are exposed. Proper bracing members 35 are also afforded for the stool 28. The supporting brackets l8 and I9 for the pan 29, while different in dimension, are identical in form and preferably consist of sheet metal strips 35 having end portions 31 bent at angles toward the front, as illustrated in Figure 5, and having integral plate portions 38 which extend forwardly and slightly downwardly affording supports for each end of the pan 29 in the manner illustrated in Figure l. The wings or angular portions 31 serve to retain the pan against lateral displacement after the same has been arranged on the brackets I8 and IS in the manner described and illustrated in Figure 1.

In Figures 6 to 9, inclusive, is illustrated a modified form of the invention in which the step 39, corresponding to the member l2 in the structures shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, is retractable or capable of sliding into the cabinet N. The footstool or ottoman 49 is adapted to slide beneath the step or foot rest 39 and both members retracted into the cabinet I9 so that their presence is not apparent, as in Figure '7.

Figure 8 is a vertical cross-sectional illustration showing the arrangement of slides or channels 4| along the side walls 42 of the cabinet l0 below the horizontal partition 43 providing the bottom of the compartment 44, the shelf I5 having been omitted. The foot rest 39 may be formed of the same material as that of the cabinet ID the edges being extended at right angles to provide flanges 45 for rigidity. Triangular braces 46 also aid in strengthening the foot rest 39, connecting the tread 4'1 with the riser 48, each end of the tread 41 being supported, at the rear edge thereof, by a rod 49, the ends of which extend into the channels 4| which are C-shaped in transverse section, in order to permit the member 39 to be pushed back into the cabinet I9.

Another pair of slides 59 are arranged below the drawer 5| in the lower portion of the cabinet l9 and are also G-shaped in transverse section to slidably receive a pair of links 52 longitudinally thereof connecting each end of the riser 48 of the foot rest 39 with the channel slides 59 so that the member 49 can slide into the cabinet l9 beneath the foot rest 39 and independently thereof. Thus, either or both of the members 39 and 49 can be disposed of within the cabinet H] as desired.

The ottoman 49 is supported at its rear edge by a rod 53 which extends from end to end thereof, its ends extending through the flanges 54 of the tread 29 of the member 49 and into the links 52 which provide slides by which the ottoman can be retracted beneath the foot rest 39. This arrangement will also permit the ottoman 49 to be extended for use while the foot rest 39 is retracted into the cabinet I9. Thus, both of these members can be used or extended for use simultaneously or either used independently of th other, the retractability of both members affording an attractive bedside cabinet-table hav-i ing no apparent suggestion of its other uses.

It is desirable, to provide a finished appearance for the cabinet H), to form inwardly extended flanges 55 and 56 about the front opening I6 and the lower opening 51 into which the foot rest 39 and ottoman 48 are fitted. This provision will aid also in strengthening the structure without materially adding weight. The flanges 55 are formed vertically and at right angles to the relatively narrow facing 58 which frames the openings on each side and whose surfaces are flush with the door I! and the risers 48 and 59, respectively, of the members 39 and 40 when these elements are closed. The horizontal flange 58 is formed at right angles with the header 60 which provides the front wall of the compartment in which the pan is arranged.

The ottoman 4|] may be suitably braced by triangular plates 6| connecting its respective riser 59 and tread 29 as illustrated inFigure 8. These should be of such dimensions as would permit the full retraction of the members 39 and 40.

Manifestly, the structure herein shown and described is capable of considerable modification, from time to time by persons skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a hospital-bed-height commode for hospital patients, in combination, a' cabinet having a base portion extending forwardly and providing a foot rest below the top of said cabinet, an open seat hingedly arranged in the top of said cabinet and a hinged cover over said seat, an opening in said cabinet above said foot rest, means in the upper end of said cabinet under said open seat for supporting a bed pan therein, a stool slidably connected to said base portion and capable of being extended therefrom providing a step, and drawers in said cabinet adapted to open on either side thereof.

2. In a hospital-bed-height commode and bedside table, in combination, a cabinet having a base portion projecting forwardly thereof providing a foot rest, a chamber formed in the top of said cabinet having means therein removably supporting a bed-pan, a hinged open seat covering said bed-pan and atable-top hingedly covering said seat, a plurality of drawers in said cabinet capable of slidably opening to either side thereof, and a receding foot stool supported in said base portion and capable of sliding into and out of said cabinet.

3. In a bed-side commode and cabinet-table for hospital patients, in combination. a cabinet having a hinged top and means therein for operatively supporting a bed-pan for bed-ridden patients, an open hinged seat in the top of said cabinet above said pan-supporting means and closable by said hinged top, a foot rest formed on the front of said cabinet, a stool slidably supported below said foot rest and capable of sliding into said cabinet, and a plurality of drawers in said cabinet adapted to open on either side thereof.

4. In a combination hospital bed-side commode and table, a cabinet having a hinged top and a foot rest extending forwardly thereof forming part of its base, means in the upper portion of said cabinet beneath said hinged top for supporting a hospital bed pan and a bed pan operatively arranged thereon, an open seat hingedly arranged over said bed-pan and covered by said hinged top, a foot stool supported in said base below said foot rest and slidable into said base, and a plurality of drawers in said cabinet capable of opening on either side thereof.

5. In a hospital-bed-height commode and cabinet-table for hospital patients, a cabinet having means in its upper portion adapted to support a bed-pan and a bed-pan operatively arranged thereon, an open seat arranged over said bed-pan, a hinged top covering said open seat and closing said cabinet providing a table sur' face, an elevated foot rest slidably associated with said cabinet forwardly thereof and capable of being retracted into said cabinet, a foot stool slidably extensible from the lower front of said cabinet below said foot rest and retractible therebeneath, and a drawer in said cabinet capable of opening on either side thereof.

6. In a combination hospital-bed-side commode and table-cabinet, a cabinet having means inv the upper portion thereof for supporting a bed-pan, a bed-pan operatively supported on said means, a hinged open seat over said bedpan and a hinged top for said cabinet closing said open seat and providing a table surface on said cabinet, extensible and retractible steps arranged on the front of said cabinet, one of said steps being slidable into the other and both being capable of'sliding into said cabinet, and a drawer operatively arranged for opening on 'either side of said cabinet.

WILLIAM S. HORN.

No references cited. 

